The NetSyMoD web site is aimed at facilitating the dissemination of information in the field of planning and management of natural resources. The focus is on the role played by Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and, in particular, on decision and information support tools (DISTs) such as integrated assessment models (IAM), geographical information systems (GIS) and decision support systems (DSS).

Target users are researchers and policy/decision makers who may find in particular information about the products of recent research projects.

NetSyMoD stands for "Network Analysis - Creative System Modelling - Decision Support", thus mentioning three fundamental typologies of contributions that the scientific community can provide to a generic planning and/or decision making process. Such processes have been formalised and described in many different ways, with probably only one main common feature, consisting in the cyclic form. The chart above depicts how such processes can be formalised as an iterative process with the focus mentioned above, as the sequence of 6 main phases: Actors analysis; Problem analysis; Creative System Modelling; DSS design; Analysis of Options; Action and monitoring.

NetSyMoD has been developed as a flexible but comprehensive methodological framework as a results of several years of research conducted at the Natural Resources Management Research Programme at Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei (NRM-Feem). The NetSyMoD logo is a symbolic picture of the limited resources available (e.g. water), in the carafe, and of the various users (glasses) with different needs (varying quantity and colour).

This web site include information about recent activities at NRM-Feem, but also about the products of many other international research activities: reports, software tools, etc. The six NetSyMoD phases are used as primary keywords for categorising the materials included or linked in this site.

We hope this web site could provide a useful service for the target community and we are open to accept suggestions and information for expanding and updating the contents at netsymod@feem.it